I had lunch today with one of my favorite people – a woman who with her husband has created what I think is the top literary publishing company in Los Angeles, and is herself a fantastic writer and poet. We talked about memoirs – we’re each writing one. We talked about the fact that there’s a key to every story – the search for it is everything. We talked about the need for humor and gratitude in memoir. We talked about how short life is and that you really have no time for the mean stuff, the whininess, the woe-is-me.

And what I’m thinking tonight and know for sure is that you’ve got to find and hang on to the positive people in your life. People who share your passion – whatever it may be. People who are wild and funny and smart and who want the best for you. This is true! Get rid of the negative people in your life.